Portable dry closet.



No. 862,000. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

PQW. MBEN.

PORTABLB DRY GLOSBTQ APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1906.

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PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

No. 862,000. F. w. MEBN.

; PORTABLE DRY CLOSET.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10. 1006.

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FREDERICK WILLIAM MEEN, OF GOODHUE, MINNESOTA.

PORTABLE DRY CLOSET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed May 10, 1906. Serial No. 316.204.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WILLIAM MEEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Goodhue, in the county of Goodhue and State of Minnesota, have invented certain 'new and useful Improvements in Portable Dry Closets and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in portable dry closets.

The object of the invention is to provide a closet of this character adapted to be connected with a chimney flue and having means whereby a fire may be built therein to consume the contents of the receptacle arranged in the closet.

A further object is to provide a' closet of this charactor having means whereby the liquid or fluid deposited therein will be separated or drained from the solid matter in the receptacle.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:Figure l is a perspective view of the closet arranged for use; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the door open and the closet arranged for firing or burning the contents of the receptacle therein; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the same; Fig. 4 is a similar view, taken at right angles to Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view, taken above the receiving pan; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the pan or receptacle removed from the closet; and Fig. 7 is a similar view of the dome or trap used in the receptacle.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the closet, which is here shown and is preferably constructed after the manner of a sheet metal airtight stove, and consists of a body-portion 2, which may be of any suitable shape, the same being here shown and is preferably cylindrical in form having a lower supporting flange 3 and metal top 4, in which is formed a centrally-disposed hole 5 adapted to be closed when necessary by a metal cover 6.

On the metal top 4 is adapted to be removably placed a wooden top or seat 7 having arranged therein an opening 8, which maybe closed by a hinged cover 9. In one side of the body 2 of the closet is arranged a stove pipe connection 10 by means of which the closet may be connected with a chimney flue by a pipe, not shown. The connection 10 is arranged neartthe top of the closet, and in the same side immediately below the connection 10 near the bottom is arranged a draft damper 12, while in the opposite side of the closet in line with the connection 10 is arranged a draft damper 13. I

I Arranged in the closet I is a cast iron excrement receptacle or pan 1 1, which conforms to the shape of the closet except at one point where the walls of the pan are flat to provide a draft space 14 through which the smoke and flame from the fire in the bottom of the closet may pass over said pan and out through the pipe connection as will be readily understood. The side walls of the pan 14 are preferably inclined or flare outwardly, as shown. The upper edges of said sides of the pan are provided with a radiallyprojecting annular flange 15, which is adapted to rest upon supporting lugs 16 secured in suitable positions on the inner walls of the closet, whereby said pan is supported at the desired height.

The bottom of the pan 14 preferably inclines downwardly toward the front side of the closet and in the lowest part of said bottom is formed a discharge opening 17 through which all liquid caught by the pan is adapted to drain into a bucket or other receptacle 18 arranged in the lower portion of the closet below the pan 14. The bucket or receptacle 18 is provided with a suitable cover 19 having formed therein an opening around which is arranged a funnel 19 to direct the flow of liquid into said opening.

In the forward side of the pan 14 is arranged a partition 20 by means of which the part of the pan containing the discharge opening 17 is separated from the other part of the pan, as shown. The partition 20 is slidably engaged with the sides of the pan, and is held in place by guide strips 21. In the lower edge of the partition is formed notches or recesses 22, through which all fluids may drain from the main part of the receptacle, but which will prevent the escape of any solid matter therefrom.

To further guard against the passage of any solid matter through the discharge outlet 17, a cylindrical dome or trap 23 is provided and adapted to be placed over the opening 17, said dome having formedin its lower edge a series of recesses or notches 24, and in its top a series of apertures 25. By this means any solid excrement which might drop into the partitioned off part of the pan will be prevented from passing through or clogging up the discharge opening 17. A hood-like deflector or plate 25 is secured to the inner side of the body 2 above the forward side of the pan 14 and extends downwardly and inwardly so as to overhang the edge of the same to direct any liquid matter which might strike against the inner side of the body 2 into the pan 14.

When the closet is arranged as shown in Fig. 1, a step 27 may be provided to facilitate the use of the same. When it is desired to burn the contents of the pan 14, 'the bucket 18 is removed through a door 26 in the lower portion of the closet and the Wooden seat 7 is removed from the top of the same. The metal the closet, and the door 26 tightly closed. The draft for the fire is regulated by the dampers 12 and 13 to cause the smoke and flame to pass upwardly through the passage or draft space 14 and over the pan 14 to the pipe connection 10, thereby quickly burning up the contents of the pan. After burning the operation has been completed, the partition 20 is removed and the ashes remaining in the pan 14 may be swept out through the discharge opening 17 to the ash pit in the bottom of the closet, which together with the ashes from the fireis removed through the door 26 of the closet and the latter again arranged for use.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the invention will be readily understood without requiring a more extended explanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim 1. In a dry closet, a hollow body provided with a flue opening, air inlets and dampers to open and close said air inlets a pan in the body having a perforated bottom, and a hood-like deflector secured at its upper edge to the side of the body and having its free edge extended downwardly and inwardly so as to overhang the edge of the pan substantially over said perforations.

2. In a dry closet, a hollow body provided with a door and a flue opening, a pan suspended in the body between the door and the opening, the bottom of the pan being inclined and perforated and its sides provided with guide strips, a recessed partition with its ends reniovably seated between said strips, and a recessed and perforated trap removably seated on the bottom over said perforation below said partition.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK WILLIAH MEEN.

Witnesses II. M. Scovnnn, B. FEAIHERSTONE.

l as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is: 

